Oni discusses band name, “Eternal Recurrence” video, and more

Concert Crap: Where does the origin name of “ONI” stem from for you guys and why did you settle on that for your band name?

Jake Oni: In Japanese folklore, the Oni is a malevolent shape-shifting demon, able to take on many guises as it spreads pain and misery. Although none of the band members are Japanese, we like the brutality of the Oni imagery.

CC: ”Eternal Recurrence” was recently released. The locations in the Cayman Islands look amazing. How was it shooting that and how special was it filming there?

JO: The Ironshore area in the Cayman is a fierce, unforgiving and violent natural volcanic stone terrain. It’s a site to be seen. The area was a perfect background for the “Eternal Recurrence” video, and it also gave us the title to our album. Very happy with the way it came out.

CC: Your debut album, Ironshore, is set for release in the fall, what can we expect from it?

JO: More brutality! Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Gojira) is an amazing producer and he brought out the best in our music. Every song is packed full of contrasts and contradictions, grace and violence. We refuse to limit ourselves to a single mood or tone. Also, my good friend Randall Blythe does guest vocals on one of the songs!

CC: How hard did you guys work on it and how great is it to see it being released within the next few months?

JO: We’re very excited. We wrote and recorded it in about four months. We really pushed to get the best performances and to maximize our strengths, only to tear up the rulebook and do it again and again.

JO: Well, our album, Ironshore, is coming out on November 25th. We’re wrapping up the “Return to Roots” tour with Max and Iggor Cavalera, and then we’ll be heading back out on the road for the “I Worship Chaos” tour with Children of Bodom, Abbath, and Exmortus.

CC: Anything else you’d like to say to your fans or anything reading this interview?

JO: Every day is a new beginning if we make it, so we give our best at every show, for every fan. We live for music and our fans make our music possible. They give it life, energy and inspiration. See you in the pit!